4003fl with shark fins

[lumgimfong]

Didn’t know they came with the fins. Anyone seen one before?

[jps]

Most likely, it was defretted.

[lumgimfong]

Oh yeah. If you brighten the screen you can just make out the fret lines.

[lumgimfong]

So does that devalue the bass in any way, since it’s not a factory FL?

[bassduke49]

Can't tell you about value, but to me it looks like a custom fingerboard. The wood is not standard for the time period and the position markers look too bright. Still, once in a while, a factory experiment or employee special project escapes into the wild!

[Isaac]

Can't tell you about value, but to me it looks like a custom fingerboard. The wood is not standard for the time period and the position markers look too bright. Still, once in a while, a factory experiment or employee special project escapes into the wild!

That was my thought, too, but what do I know?

As to value, it always comes down to what a buyer and seller can agree on.

[berth]

Over time the height of the inlays might differ a little with the wood next to it. You do not want that on a fretless.

[jps]

Over time the height of the inlays might differ a little with the wood next to it. You do not want that on a fretless.

Same with inlayed fret lines.

[berth]

Same with inlayed fret lines.

Aren't they easier to level than sharkfin inlays? I did not know this and am glad I prefer unlined.

[jps]

Same with inlayed fret lines.

Aren't they easier to level than sharkfin inlays? I did not know this and am glad I prefer unlined.

They probably are, but why have them there in the first place?

2010 NAMM Show fretless Martin Keith Elfin 5

[berth]

Elfin-5 FL-Front-1200_9122.jpg

Looks nice. Pity it doesn't have a neck pickup, but only two pickups in bridge position.

[jps]

Elfin-5 FL-Front-1200_9122.jpg

Looks nice. Pity it doesn't have a neck pickup, but only two pickups in bridge position.

I make do.

It really is quite versatile sounding. Those are Citron humbucking pickups that, with Martin's clever control layout, the pan control can act like a typical one, panning between the two pickups, or, by pulling up on the tone control's switch, the pan control sweeps from the two outer coils to the two inner coils while rotated.